Apparatus for generating multiple X-ray images of an object from a single X-ray exposure
AssigneeSunnybrook Hospital
InventorsPia-Krista M. Rieppo, John A. Rowlands
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An x-ray image intensifier includes a photoconductive x-ray detector having an electro-optic light modulator disposed on a photoconductive detector layer. The photoconductive x-ray detector absorbs x-rays passing through an object to be imaged to form an x-ray exposure of the object. An optical image of the x-ray exposure is generated when light passes through the photoconductive x-ray detector. An imager captures optical images of the x-ray exposure. A processor coupled to the imager digitizes and stores the optical images of the x-ray exposure captured by the imager at selected intervals.
Claims22
An x-ray image intensifier comprising:
- a photoconductive x-ray detector including a photoconductive detector layer and an electro-optic light modulator disposed on said photoconductive detector layer, said photoconductive x-ray detector absorbing x-rays passing through an object to be imaged and creating variations in potential across said electro-optic modulator thereby to form an x-ray exposure of said object, said variations in potential decaying over time;
- a source of non-actinic light to pass through said photoconductive x-ray detector after said x-ray exposure has been formed, said variations in potential causing spatial variations in the intensity of said non-actinic light thereby to create an optical representation of said x-ray exposure;
- an imager receiving said non-actinic light after having passed through said photoconductive x-ray detector and capturing images of said x-ray exposure at selected intervals thereby to capture multiple images of the same x-ray exposure at different times, each of said images having a different transmission versus exposure characteristic;
- and
- a processor coupled to said imager to digitize and store said images.
An apparatus for generating x-ray images of an object comprising:
- an x-ray source to generate x-rays to pass through an object to be imaged;
- a photoconductive x-ray detector including a photoconductive detector layer and an electro-optic light modulator disposed on said photoconductive detector layer, said photoconductive x-ray detector absorbing x-rays having passed through said object, said absorbed x-rays creating variations in potential across said electro-optic modulator adjacent the interface between said electro-optic modulator and said photoconductive detector layer thereby to form an x-ray exposure of said object, said variations in potential decaying over time;
- a source of non-actinic light to pass through said photoconductive x-ray detector after said x-ray exposure has been formed, said variations in potential causing spatial variations in the intensity of said non-actinic light thereby to create an optical representation of said x-ray exposure;
- an imager receiving said non-actinic after having passed through said photoconductive x-ray detector and capturing images of said x-ray exposure at selected intervals thereby to capture multiple images of the same x-ray exposure at different times, each of said images having a different transmission versus exposure characteristic;
- and
- a processor coupled to said imager to digitize and store said optical images captured by said imager.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.